The Homeowner's Roof Inspection Checklist (Louisville, KY)

Why a 30-Minute Inspection Twice a Year Pays for Itself

The single biggest reason Louisville homeowners end up with $25,000 roof replacements instead of $500 repairs is simple: nobody looks at the roof until water is dripping into the kitchen. By then, the underlayment is rotted, the decking has soaked, and what would have been a localized fix has become a systemic failure.

A proper roof inspection takes about 30 minutes twice a year. You don't need to climb anywhere. You don't need any tools beyond binoculars, a flashlight, and a phone camera. And it will catch the vast majority of problems early — when they're cheap to fix.

We recommend inspecting your roof in early spring (March/April) to catch winter damage and again in late fall (October/November) to prepare for ice and snow. Add an extra inspection after any major Louisville storm — straight-line winds over 50 mph, hail of any size, ice storms, or extended freeze-thaw events.

Step 1: The Ground-Level Walkaround (10 minutes)

Walk the entire perimeter of your home with binoculars and a phone camera. You're looking for visible warning signs from a safe distance.

• Missing, lifted, curled, or broken shingles — especially after windstorms
• Dark streaks (algae) on shaded slopes — common throughout St. Matthews, Highlands, Crescent Hill
• Missing or damaged ridge cap shingles along the peaks
• Sagging or wavy lines in the roof deck (suggests structural moisture damage)
• Granule piles in gutters, at downspout outlets, or in flower beds — a sign of accelerated wear
• Damaged, rusted, or pulling-away flashing around chimneys, dormers, and walls
• Daylight visible at the underside of the eaves (look up at soffit/fascia)
• Sagging gutters, separated seams, or visible holes
• Pipe boots that look cracked, faded, or pulling away from the pipe
• Tree branches touching or hanging within 6 feet of the roof

Step 2: The Attic Inspection (10–15 minutes)

The attic tells the truth about your roof faster than the roof itself does. A flashlight, a moisture meter (optional but $20 on Amazon), and your eyes are all you need. Do this on a sunny day so you can spot daylight, and again on a rainy day so you can spot active leaks.

• Look for daylight coming through the roof deck — any pinhole means water can get in
• Check for water stains on the underside of the decking — dark rings indicate past or active leaks
• Inspect rafters and the underside of the decking for mold, dark spots, or visible rot
• Feel the insulation — if it's damp, compressed, or matted, you have a moisture problem
• Check around plumbing pipes, chimneys, and bathroom vents for staining or rust
• Look for evidence of rodent or pest entry (chewed insulation, droppings, nests)
• Verify ventilation: you should see/feel air movement near the ridge and at the soffits — blocked vents cause shingle failure
• Check that bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans vent OUTSIDE the attic (a surprising number don't, and it destroys the roof)

Step 3: The After-Storm Spot Check (15 minutes)

Within 48 hours of any major Louisville storm — high winds, hail, ice — do a focused storm-damage walk in addition to your normal twice-a-year inspection.

• Walk the perimeter and look for shingles in the yard or driveway
• Check gutters for fresh granule deposits (the brown sand-like material at outlets)
• Photograph any dents you find on gutters, downspouts, or HVAC units
• Look at metal flashing, valley metal, and ridge vents for new dents
• Check vehicles, mailboxes, and outdoor furniture for hail dings — confirms storm severity for insurance
• Note the storm date and time in writing — insurance adjusters will ask
• If you find damage, call a LOCAL roofer (not a door-knocker) for a free inspection before calling insurance

Quick-Reference Inspection Schedule

Print this and tape it inside a kitchen cabinet. Pair it with a phone reminder twice a year.

When to Stop Inspecting and Call a Roofer

DIY inspection is for early detection — not for diagnosis. If you find any of the following, stop and call a Louisville-licensed roofer for a free inspection. Don't try to fix it yourself; improperly attempted DIY repairs are one of the most common ways homeowners void their manufacturer warranty.

Call immediately if you see active dripping inside the home, daylight through the roof deck, sagging or wavy roof lines, widespread granule loss, multiple missing shingles after a storm, mold or rot in the attic, water stains on ceilings or walls, or any visible damage to flashing, valleys, or chimney intersections. Also call if your roof is over 18 years old and you've never had it professionally evaluated — even if nothing looks wrong, a baseline inspection helps you plan and protects you from being surprised by a sudden failure.

Homestretch Roofing offers free inspections throughout Louisville and Southern Indiana with no high-pressure sales. Our estimators bring drone imagery, take photos of every problem area, and give you a written report — even if the recommendation is 'your roof is fine, see you in 5 years.' Call (502) 208-5432 or book online at homestretchroofing.com/book.

Frequently Asked Questions